Lesotho
- South Africaup to 90 days
- Botswanaup to 90 days
- Eswatiniup to 90 days
- Zimbabweup to 90 days
- Mauritiusup to 90 days
Lesotho vs South Africa Passport Comparison
Lesotho
AFRICA
61
Rank
Visa-Free Access74 countries
The Lesotho passport currently offers Basotho citizens a travel mobility score that includes access to 74 visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations. According to the p...
South Africa
AFRICA
47
Rank
Visa-Free Access100 countries
The South Africa passport currently offers a significant level of travel mobility for its holders, providing access to 100 destinations through visa-free or visa-on-ar...
Lesotho vs South Africa Passport Comparison Overview (2026)
This comparison analyzes visa-free access, ranking trends, and mobility metrics for Lesotho vs South Africa. South Africa currently leads this comparison with 100 visa-free destinations, while Lesotho has 74. Use the detailed sections below to compare practical travel access and historical changes.
- 44 visa-free destinations are shared by all compared passports.
- The largest exclusive advantage is 24 destination(s) unique to one passport in this comparison.
- Ranking and access figures are rendered from country ranking history with a 2026-first year preference.
Detailed Passport Metrics
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Lesotho | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-Free Destinations | 74 | 100 |
| 2026 Ranking | 61 | 47 |
| Global Mobility Score | 64/100 | 47/100 |
| Openness Score | 45/100 | 58/100 |
| Continent | AFRICA | AFRICA |
| Schengen Member | No | No |
| Citizenship by Investment | No | No |
| Residency by Investment | No | No |
| Visa on Arrival | 21 | 28 |
| eTA Available | 5 | 6 |
| e-Visa Available | 36 | 31 |
| Visa Required | 115 | 93 |
Visa-Free Destinations
Lesotho
74
South Africa
100
2026 Ranking
Global Mobility Score
Lesotho
64/100
South Africa
47/100
Openness Score
Lesotho
45/100
South Africa
58/100
Continent
Lesotho
AFRICA
South Africa
AFRICA
Schengen Member
Citizenship by Investment
Residency by Investment
Visa on Arrival
eTA Available
e-Visa Available
Visa Required
Lesotho
115
Summary Insights
Comparison Summary & Recommendations
Overall Winner
South Africa
With 100 visa-free destinations, South Africa offers the most global mobility among the compared passports.
Most Unique Access
South Africa
South Africa provides exclusive visa-free access to 24 destinations not accessible with the other passports.
Key Insights
- • All compared passports share access to 44 common destinations
- • The strongest passport offers 100 visa-free destinations
- • Consider your travel priorities: business, leisure, or specific regions when choosing a passport
- • Visa requirements can change - always verify current entry requirements before traveling
Visa Access Breakdown
Visa Access Analysis
Understanding the overlap and unique access each passport provides
44
Shared Destinations
5
Unique to Lesotho
24
Unique to South Africa
Exclusive Visa-Free Access
Lesotho
5 unique destinations
JapanBangladeshSouth AfricaUgandaSuriname
South Africa
24 unique destinations
ArgentinaBrazilChileCosta RicaDominican RepublicEl SalvadorFalkland IslandsGabonGeorgiaGuatemala+14 more
Shared Visa-Free Destinations (44)
Countries that all compared passports can access visa-free
Antigua and BarbudaBahamasBarbadosBelizeBeninBotswanaCayman IslandsCook IslandsDominicaEcuadorFijiThe GambiaGrenadaGuyanaHaitiHong Kong (SAR China)JamaicaKenyaKiribatiKosovoMalawiMalaysiaMauritiusMicronesiaMontserratNamibiaPalestinian TerritoryPhilippinesSenegalSingaporeSt. LuciaSt. Vincent and the GrenadineseSwatiniTanzaniaTrinidad and TobagoTurks and Caicos IslandsVanuatuBritish Virgin IslandsZambiaZimbabweRwandaAngolaGhanaMozambique
Historical Ranking Trends
Ranking Trends Over Time
Historical passport ranking comparison from 2006 to 2026 (lower rank is better)
| Year | Lesotho Rank | South Africa Rank | Lesotho Visa-free | South Africa Visa-free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 47 | 37 | 51 | 65 |
| 2007 | 49 | 36 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 52 | 35 | 62 | 88 |
| 2009 | 52 | 35 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 64 | 47 | 65 | 88 |
| 2011 | 67 | 47 | 65 | 92 |
| 2012 | 67 | 50 | 67 | 93 |
| 2013 | 60 | 42 | 68 | 94 |
| 2014 | 59 | 41 | 72 | 97 |
| 2015 | 72 | 53 | 69 | 95 |
| 2016 | 69 | 54 | 69 | 97 |
| 2017 | 70 | 55 | 67 | 98 |
| 2018 | 71 | 52 | 74 | 102 |
| 2019 | 69 | 53 | 74 | 100 |
| 2020 | 66 | 52 | 76 | 101 |
| 2021 | 74 | 58 | 77 | 103 |
| 2022 | 67 | 51 | 77 | 104 |
| 2023 | 69 | 53 | 77 | 106 |
| 2024 | 65 | 53 | 80 | 108 |
| 2025 | 64 | 48 | 79 | 106 |
| 2026 | 61 | 47 | 74 | 100 |
Each cell shows rank and visa-free count for that year.
Destinations
Notable Visa-Free Destinations
Representative destinations that highlight each passport's strongest visa-free access profile.
South Africa
- Angola
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
Resources
Official Resources
Primary government and immigration sources for policy verification before travel.
Lesotho
South Africa
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